# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1950_S1067
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

PARISH EDUCATION 369

and for all. To the extent that the State recognizes the value of the
“hurch’s contribution to the national welfare, it may permit the
teaching of religion in the public schools, and the like. To the ex-
nt that it tends toward absolutism, it will try to enforce regi-
ntation and uniformity and withdraw the right of tax-exemption
d other rights. It is our duty as Christian citizens to guard
against a union of Church and State on the one hand, and the
mabsolute separation of religion from the State and the schools on
e other. The State has sustained the right of parents to send their
children to a non-public school, but a totalitarian government,
S insisting on one type of school, is sure to prohibit non-public
schools.

The State or Civil Government

Civil government, like the Church, is a divine institution. It

human rights, their power and authority are from God. God has
sentrusted to rulers the power of the sword, to the end that they
pshould preserve order, secure the well-being of men and society,
and enable Christians to lead a quiet and peaceable life.

5. If civil government is a divine institution, then the civil au-
:thorities must themselves submit to the laws which they are com-
F missioned to enforce and must be subject to God. Luther says
z'we must let God be the one Ruler over everything that has been
Bcreated, and all of us must be completely subject to Him. God
rules in the spiritual realm (Church) by means of the Word, and
eGod rules in the worldly realm by means of civil government or
tthe sword. Civil authorities are not free to do as they please, but
fthey are “ministers of God” and as such are bound to do the
twill of God. Luther cannot be cited in defense of the passive atti-
tude toward civil government which has characterized much of
fLutheranism. Luther boldly told civil rulers what their duties
were according to the Word of God and courageously rebuked them
when they abused their power.

‘The fact that civil government is largely in the hands of world-
.lings and unscrupulous men must not deter the Church from de-
' claring God’s will with respect to rulers and magistrates.. The
ptendency of government is to reach out for more power and, in
Bdoing so, to restrict and curtail the liberty of the subjects. Luther
delivered the State from the tyranny of the Church and wrote much
sin defense of government as a divine institution and a gift of God.
At the same time he warned. that the devil, as “the prince. of ‘this
: world,” constantly tempts rulers to abuse their power and become
: tyrants. It is the responsibility of the Church to reveal the will
of God on moral issues also to rulers and magistrates. It is like-

Is based on the sovereignty of God, not on natural rights. Even.
ugh governments are founded by men for the protection of.